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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland
Selfoss
Spend 1 night in Selfoss as a base for nearby day trips; otherwise skip it and stay in Reykjavik.
Selfoss is the largest town in South Iceland, 60 km east of Reykjavik on the Ring Road. It offers basic accommodation, a few cafés and easy access to Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir, Hveragerði and the coastal villages, making a single overnight stay sufficient for most itineraries.
- Country
- Iceland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (short daylight, possible road closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ISK
- Money
- Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including remote petrol stations and toilets. About 145 ISK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₭5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ₭7,000–11,000 excl. bed · High ₭11,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police/Medical 112 · Non‑urgent doctor 1700
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected.; Tour guide: Optional; ISK 1,000–3,000 for an excellent guide.; Taxi: Nothing.
- Water
- Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.
- Toilets
- Few on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500) at sites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₭800–1,200 |
| Hot dog | ₭1,200–1,800 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₭2,500–3,000 |
| Strætó bus ticket | ₭1,400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KEF · Keflavík International Airport
- About 2 h 30 min drive to Selfoss; no direct bus, so hire a car or take the airport bus to Reykjavík and change to Strætó route 51 (check)
- RKV · Reykjavík Domestic Airport
- About 1 h drive to Selfoss; Strætó route 51 leaves from Mjódd interchange in Reykjavík, about 1 h (check)
Typical fares
- Reykjavik → Selfoss (Strætó)
- ≈₭1,400, 1 h (check)
- Taxi Selfoss → Hotel Selfoss
- ≈₭1,200–1,500
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; Strætó bus route 51 connects Reykjavik–Selfoss (≈1 hour, 1,400 kr). Local taxis operate from the rank by Hótel Selfoss.
See and do
Known for
- Bobby Fischer Center
- Summer in Selfoss Festival
- Gateway to Golden Circle attractions
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Þingvellir National Park | Ring Road west, 45 km (28 mi), ~45 min by carRing Road west, 28 mi (45 km), ~45 min by car | ≈1 h round |
| Gullfoss & Geysir | Ring Road west, 70 km (43 mi), ~1 h by carRing Road west, 43 mi (70 km), ~1 h by car | ≈2 h round |
| Hveragerði | Ring Road west, 30 km (19 mi), ~30 min by carRing Road west, 19 mi (30 km), ~30 min by car | ≈1 h round |
| Eyrarbakki | Local bus or car, 15 km (9.3 mi) east, ~20 minLocal bus or car, 9.3 mi (15 km) east, ~20 min | ≈45 min round |
Sleep
- Hotel Selfoss
- Four‑star hotel by the river; rooms 17,000–19,000 kr.
- Bed and Breakfast Selfoss
- Dorms 4,000 kr, double rooms 9,000 kr.
- Fosstún Apartment Hotel
- Apartments 15,000 kr, includes breakfast.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Afsakiðaf-sah-keeth |
| Thank you | Takktahk |
| How much is it? | Hvað kostar það?kvaht koh-star thah? |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvar er klósettið?kvar er kloh-set-tee? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Using titles or surnames — there usually is no family name
- Pools: Shower naked first, keep the hot pot conversational; avoid: Swimwear in the showers
- Driving: Pull into lay-bys for photos, dip lights on single-lane bridges; avoid: Stopping on the road
- Nature: Stay on paths, carry litter out; avoid: Stone stacks, walking on moss
- Conversation: Ask about books, music, weather and the elves with good humour; avoid: Lecturing on whaling
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus schedules to coastal towns are irregular; confirm locally.
- Winter road conditions can affect Ring Road travel; check weather forecasts.
Selfoss is safe; main concerns are weather‑related road closures and occasional icy sidewalks in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Selfoss yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bobby Fischer Center
- Summer in Selfoss Festival
- Gateway to Golden Circle attractions
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Selfoss, revision 5332845 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332845
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/selfoss). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.